System and method of ue-centric radio access procedure

ABSTRACT

A method and system for operating a user equipment (UE) wherein a first set of radio access procedures are supported when the UE is in a first operating state, and a second set of radio access procedures are supported when the UE is in a second operating state.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/165,985, filed May 26, 2016; which claims the benefit of priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. U.S. 62/168,658, filed May29, 2015; the contents of both of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for wirelesscommunications, and in particular, to a system and method for userequipment centric radio access procedures.

BACKGROUND

Wireless networks that support mobile user equipment (UE) are generallycellular in nature. The Radio Access Network (RAN) of a wireless networkprovides radio access to a UE using a plurality of base stations thateach have a corresponding coverage area, also known as a coverage cellor cell. Each base station supports communications the UEs within itscorresponding cell. Each UE is assigned a cell-specific ID which islocally unique. The performance of cell-centric networks is limited byfactors such as inter-cell interference and non-uniform spectralefficiency across a cell.

SUMMARY

Wireless networks may employ radio access virtualization (RAV) that willeliminate traditional cell boundaries in favor of user equipment (UE)centric resource assignment. RAV can include a number of differentcomponents that will use different procedures in different UEoperational states. Example embodiments are described herein forsupporting selected RAV procedures in various UE states. In exampleembodiments there is described a method and system for operating a UEwherein a first set of radio access procedures are supported when the UEis in a first operating state; and a second set of radio accessprocedures are supported when the UE is in a second operating state.According to one example aspect is a method for operating a userequipment device that is enabled to transition between at least a firstoperating state that supports a first set of radio access procedures anda second operating state that supports a second set of radio accessprocedures. The method includes performing an initial access procedure,while the user equipment device is in the first operating state, toestablish a first set of radio access parameters for the user equipmentdevice to use while in the first operating state and a second set ofradio access parameters for the user equipment device to use while inthe second operating state. The method further includes transitioningfrom the first operating state to the second operating state andtransmitting using the second set of radio access parameters.

In some example configurations, establishing the first and second setsof radio access parameters includes receiving the first and second setsof radio access parameters at the user equipment device from a wirelessnetwork entity. In some examples, the radio access parameters include auser equipment identifier for the user equipment device to use in boththe first operating state and the second operating state. In someconfigurations, the first set of radio access parameters includes a userequipment sounding reference signal and a sounding channel resourceassignment for the user equipment device, and the second set of radioaccess parameters includes a user equipment identifying sequence and anuplink tracking channel resource assignment for the user equipmentdevice.

In some examples the method includes periodically transmitting from theuser equipment device, while in the first operating state, the userequipment sounding reference signal using the sounding channel resourceassignment, and transmitting from the user equipment device, while inthe second operating state, the user equipment identifying sequenceusing the uplink tracking channel resource assignment. In someconfigurations, the periodic transmission of the user equipmentidentifying sequence requires less wireless network resources than theperiodic transmitting of the user equipment sounding reference signal.

In some examples, the method includes monitoring, at the user equipmentdevice, for downlink grant-free transmissions in both the firstoperating state and the second operating state. In some examples, themethod includes sending, from the user equipment device, uplink grantfree transmissions in both the first operating state and the secondoperating state.

In some examples, the method includes, at the user equipment device,transitioning from the second operating state to the first operatingstate upon receiving a message on a data downlink channel monitored bythe user equipment device that there is downlink data for the userequipment device requiring that the user equipment device transitionfrom the second operating state to the first operating state, and thenreceiving the downlink data while in the first operating state. In someexamples, the message includes a unicast message that includes anidentifier for the user equipment device and a flag indicating that astate transition is required.

In some examples aspects, a user equipment device for operating in awireless network is configured to perform the above methods. Forexample, one aspect provides a user equipment device for operating in awireless network, the user equipment device including a wireless networkinterface for sending and receiving radio frequency signals through thewireless network, a processor coupled to the wireless network interface,and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores executableinstructions that, when executed by the processor, enable the userequipment device to: transition, upon the occurrence of predeterminedevents, between a first operating state that supports a first set ofradio access procedures and a second operating state that supports asecond set of radio access procedures; and perform an initial accessprocedure, while the user equipment device is in the first operatingstate, to establish a first set of radio access parameters for the userequipment device to use while in the first operating state and a secondset of radio access parameters for the user equipment device to usewhile in the second operating state.

In some aspects, the user equipment device is configured to establishthe first and second sets of radio access parameters by receiving thenetwork access parameters at the user equipment device from a networkentity through the wireless network. In some aspects, the radio accessparameters includes a user equipment identifier for the user equipmentdevice to use in both the first operating state and the second operatingstate. In some configurations, the first set of radio access parametersincludes a user equipment sounding reference signal and a soundingchannel resource assignment for the user equipment device, and thesecond set of radio access parameters includes a user equipmentidentifying sequence and an uplink tracking channel resource assignmentfor the user equipment device.

In some examples, the user equipment device is configured to:periodically transmit from the user equipment device, while in the firstoperating state, the user equipment sounding reference signal using thesounding channel resource assignment; and periodically transmit from theuser equipment device, while in the second operating state, the userequipment identifying sequence using the uplink tracking channelresource assignment. The periodic transmission of the user equipmentidentifying sequence requires less wireless network resources than theperiodic transmitting of the user equipment sounding reference signal.

In some examples, the user equipment device is configured to providealways on-connectivity through the wireless network interface in boththe first and second operating states by: sending the user equipmentsounding reference signal using the sounding channel resource assignmentin the first operating state but not the second operating state; andsending the user equipment identifying sequence using the uplinktracking channel resource assignment while in the second operatingstate; support grant-free uplink and downlink transmissions for databelow predefined thresholds in both the first operating state and thesecond operating state; and monitor a downlink data notification channelwhile in the second operating state for an indication to transition tofirst operating state.

According to some example aspects is a network element for operating ina wireless network. The network element includes a wireless networkinterface for sending and receiving radio frequency signals through thewireless network to one or more user equipment devices; a processorcoupled to the wireless network interface; and a memory coupled to theprocessor. The memory stores executable instructions that, when executedby the processor, enable the network element to: perform an initialaccess procedure to provide network access parameters to a userequipment device that is operating in a first operating state, thenetwork access parameters including: a user equipment identifyingsequence and an uplink tracking channel resource assignment for the userequipment device to use while in a second cooperating state; and a userequipment sounding reference signal and a sounding channel resourceassignment for the user equipment device to use while in the firstoperating state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanyingdrawings which show example embodiments of the present disclosure, andin which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a UE-centric wireless communicationssystem according to example embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates different user equipmentoperating states and the functions and procedures associated with thosestates according to example embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of an initialaccess procedure that is supported in an active state according toexample embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a network sideactions enabled by a network controller for Uplink (UL) grant-freetransmissions in multiple operating states.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of the actionsperformed by User Equipment (UE) for UL grant-free transmissions inmultiple operating states.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of network sideactions enabled by the network controller for downlink (DL) grant-freetransmissions in multiple operating states.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of the actionsperformed by UE for DL grant-free transmissions in multiple operatingstates.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of UE functionsthat are performed by a UE for uplink communications in a firstoperating state.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of UE functionsthat are performed by a UE for downlink communications in a firstoperating state.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram that illustrates an example ofNetwork-Oriented Measurement Procedures performed for a UE in the firstoperating state.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a networkinitiated second (ECO) state to first (Active) state transitionprocedure for a UE.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a UE initiatedsecond (ECO) state to first (Active) state transition procedure.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a statetransition procedure for moving from UE first (Active) state to a UEsecond (ECO) state.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a UE trackingprocedure performed when the UE is in the second (ECO) state.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a DL Datanotification procedure performed when the UE is in the second (ECO)state.

FIG. 16A illustrates a block diagram that shows a power-offderegistration procedure.

FIG. 16B illustrates a block diagram that shows a registration timerexpiry deregistration procedure.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a processing system that may be used forimplementing devices in the system of FIG. 1 according to exampleembodiments.

Similar reference numerals may have been used in different figures todenote similar components.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless communications network 100 to which theradio access procedures described herein can be applied. Systems andmethodologies for implementing UE-centric communications networks can befound, for example, in the disclosures of the following documents, thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference: (1) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/550,362 filed Nov. 21, 2014 (publication numberUS 2015/0141002 A1), entitled: “System and Method for Non-cellularWireless Access”; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/974,810 filedAug. 23, 2013 (publication number US 2014/0113643 A1), entitled “Systemand Method for Radio Access Virtualization”; (3) U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/930,908 filed Jun. 28, 2013 (publication number US2015/0003263 A1), entitled “System and Method for Network UplinkMeasurement Based Operation Using UE Centric Sounding”; (4) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/150,539 filed Jan. 8, 2014, entitled “System andMethod for Always On Connections in Wireless Communications System”(publication number US2015/0195788 A1)); (5) U.S. Patent ApplicationNos. 62/141,483 filed Apr. 1, 2015, and Ser. No. 15/009,626 filed Jan.28, 2016 entitled “System and Method for a Tracking Channel”; (6) U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/608,653 filed Sep. 10, 2012 (publicationnumber US 20140073287 A1), entitled “System And Method For UserEquipment Centric Unified System Access In Virtual Radio AccessNetwork”; (7) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/609,707 filed Jan. 30,2015, entitled “Apparatus And Method For a Wireless Device To ReceiveData in an Eco State”; (8) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/911,716filed Jun. 6, 2013 (publication number US 2014/0192767 A1), entitled“System and Method for Small Traffic Transmissions”; and (9) “U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/790,673 filed Mar. 8, 2013, (publicationnumber US 2014/0254544 A1) System and Method for Uplink Grant-FreeTransmission Scheme”.

As described in the documents noted above, in example embodimentsUE-centric wireless communications network 100 organizes networkcommunications around a user equipment dedicated connection ID (UE DCID)associated with a User Equipment (UE) device. In this regard, wirelesscommunications network 100 employs an air interface design to supportnon-cellular based wireless access.

In an example embodiment, wireless communications network 100 of FIG. 1includes a plurality of transmission reception points (TRPs) 102 and UEs104, and a cloud processor or controller 106 in communication with theTRPs 102. The TRPs 102 may include any component capable of providingwireless access by establishing uplink and/or downlink connections withthe UEs 104, such as a base transceiver station (BTS), a NodeB, anevolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a femtocell, and other wirelessly enablednetwork node devices. The UEs 104 may comprise any component capable ofestablishing a wireless connection with the TRPs 102. The TRPs 102 maybe connected to controller 106 via a backhaul network (not shown). Thebackhaul network may be any component or collection of components thatallow data to be exchanged between the TRPs 102 and the controller 106and/or a remote end (not shown). In some embodiments, the wirelesscommunications network 100 may comprise various other wireless devices,such as relays, femtocells, etc. The controller 106 may be any type ofdata processing system capable of performing the processes disclosedbelow and capable of communication with other devices.

In one example of wireless communications network 100, the TRPs 102 arenot associated with a cell. Rather, the controller 106 organizes theTRPs 102 into logical entities 110. Each UE 104 is assigned to a logicalentity 110 and is assigned a unique UE dedicated connection ID (UEDCID). In an embodiment, the UE 104 can be a mobile phone, a sensor, asmart phone, or other wireless device. The UE 104 may move freely withina service area of a single logical entity 110 without acquiring a new UEDCID. Each TRP 102 monitors signal strengths for any UE 104 detectableby the TRP 102 and sends this data to the controller 106. Controller 106can both create and manage the membership of logical entity 110. When aUE 104 initially attaches to the network, controller 106 can createlogical entity 110 and assign a set of TRPs 102 to logical entity 110.This assignment can be done in accordance with measurements of thereceived strength of the UE transmission at the TRP 102. As theconditions in the network change, or as the UE moves through thenetwork, controller 106 can modify the membership of logical entity 110.This determination can be performed dynamically in some embodiments. Insome examples, the controller 106 assigns a logical entity ID to thelogical entity 110 and assigns a UE DCID to each UE 104 according to thelogical entity ID to which the UE 104 is assigned and a user equipmentidentifier (UE ID) of the UE 104. In some embodiments, the UE ID is aunique identifier permanently or semi-permanently assigned to a device,for example when the UE device is manufactured, or delivered to anetwork operator, or assigned to a user. In some examples, the UE DCIDis a combination of the UE ID and the logical entity ID.

The UE DCID is used by the UE 104 when transmitting, and may also beused when receiving. In some examples, the controller 106 selects one ormore of the TRPs 102 from the group of TRPs 102 in the logical entity110 to provide radio access to the UE 104. In an embodiment, thecontroller 106 selects the TRP 102 based on relative signal strengths ofthe UE 104 at each of the TRPs 102 in the logical entity 110 and/or theloads of each TRP 102 in the logical entity 110. In other embodiments,other selection criteria can be utilized. In an embodiment, thecontroller 106 dynamically reassigns a new TRP 102 in the logical entity110 to serve the UE 104 based on changes to the signal strength of the104 UE at each TRP 102 in the logical entity 110. The change in signalstrength may be due to UE mobility or to other factors.

In an embodiment, the controller 106 can enable or disable theparticipation of one or more TRPs 102 in a logical entity 110 to reach atradeoff between the service quality provided to all covered UEs 104 andenergy saving criteria.

In an embodiment, the TRPs 102 assigned to a logical entity 110 may bechanged dynamically by the controller 106 according to changes innetwork conditions.

In example embodiments, the wireless communications network 100 isconfigured to support different operating states for UE 104, with eachoperating state supporting different UE functionality. In this regard,FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates different UE 104 operatingstates and the functions and procedures associated with those statesaccording to example embodiments. In particular, in one example the UE104 is configured to implement a state machine 200 that can transitionbetween two different states, namely a first “Active” state 204 and asecond, energy economizing, “ECO” state 202. In example embodiments, areduced set of UE functionality is supported in the ECO state 202compared to the Active state. At least some degree of connectivity towireless communications network 100 is supported in both states, suchthat UE 104 maintains an always-on connection to the wirelesscommunications network 100. Examples of the implementation of statemachine 200 on UE 104 are described in detail in the aforementioneddocuments entitled “System and Method for Always On Connections inWireless Communications System” publication number US2015/0195788 A1 and

“Apparatus And Method For a Wireless Device To Receive Data in an EcoState” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/609,707. In exampleembodiments, more than two operational states can be supported, witheach state providing a different level of device functionality andrequiring different levels of network resources.

In the example of FIG. 2, a first set of radio or network accessfunctions or procedures, referred to herein as Active procedures 208, issupported in Active state 204 and a second set of radio or networkaccess functions or procedures, referred to herein as ECO procedures206, is supported in ECO state 202. As will be explained in greaterdetail below, in at least some embodiments some common procedures 207are supported in both states, however some procedures are exclusive toone or the other of the Active state 204 or the ECO state 202.Furthermore, the procedures shown in FIG. 2 are not an exhaustive listof all the functionality supported in either state.

In the illustrated embodiment, the following Active procedures 208 aresupported exclusively in the Active state 204:

Initial Access Procedures 210

Scheduled Transmission Procedure 214

Network-oriented Measurement Procedure 216

In the illustrated embodiment, the following ECO procedures 206 aresupported exclusively in the ECO state 202:

Down Link (DL) Data Notification Procedure 224

Tracking Procedure 222

In the illustrated embodiment, the following common procedures 207 aresupported in both the Active state 204 and the ECO state 202:

Grant-free Transmission Procedure 212

Deregistration Procedure 226

In the illustrated Embodiment, the following procedures enabletransition between the Active State 204 and the ECO state 201:

ECO to Active Procedures 218

Active to ECO Procedures 220

Each of the above procedures will now be explained in greater detailwith reference to FIGS. 3-16.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of an initial access procedure 210 that issupported by UE 104 in the Active state 204. Initial access procedure210 will be performed when UE 104 is attempting to establish contactwith the wireless communications network 100, for example when the UE104 is being powered on. Initial access procedure 210 is used toestablish sets of network access parameters that will be used by UE 104in various operating states. Aspects of suitable initial accessprocedures are described in detail in the aforementioned documents (seefor example U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/550,362 filed Nov. 21,2014 (publication number US 2015/0141002 A1), entitled: “System andMethod for Non-cellular Wireless Access”; and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/974,810 filed Aug. 23, 2013 (publication number US2014/0113643 A1), entitled “System and Method for Radio AccessVirtualization”). Accordingly FIG. 3 and the accompanying descriptionprovide a high level overview.

As shown in FIG. 3, initial access procedure 210 includes the followingactions: UE 104 searches for a synchronization signal associated with aTRP 102 (Hypercell ID) (Action 300); UE 104 accesses the wirelesscommunications network 100 via a pre-defined default frame structure(Action 302); UE 104 obtains DL synchronization via a synchronization(sync) channel (Action 303); UE 104 uses Physical Random Access Channel(PRACH) for initial access (Action 304); and the network authenticatesUE 104 and assigns a UE dedicated connection ID (UE DCID). Moreparticularly, with respect to Actions 300 to 303, in exampleembodiments, one or more TRPs 102 assigned to a logical entity 110transmit a DL synchronization signal in the sync channel using apre-defined time and frequency (t/f) resource and frame structure. UE104, as part of its initial access procedure, searches for thesynchronization signal. The UE 104 can search in the pre-defined t/fresources for a synchronization signal having the predefined framestructure. After synchronization is established, the UE 104 canestablish DL timing and frequency synchronization with the logicalentity 110, and obtain an ID for logical entity 110. This informationallows UE 104 to determine the correct PRACH t/f resources for UE 104 totransmit a UL sequence to the logical entity 110. The logical entity canrespond with a UL timing adjustment command to the UE 104, thus allowingUL synchronization to be established with the network (Action 304). OnceDL and UL synchronization have been established, the network controller106 can authenticate UE 104 and assign: (a) a UE dedicated connection ID(UE DCID 240); (b) an associated UE-centric sequence (UE SEQ 242), whichis a uniquely assigned ID sequence that the UE can transmit for lowresource signaling in a tracking channel, such as a specific Zadoff-Chusequence; (c) an uplink (UL) time/frequency (t/f) resource allocationfor the tracking channel for the UE (UE TC T/F 244); and (d) soundingresources including a UE-centric sounding reference signal (UE SRS 246)and an uplink (UL) time/frequency resource allocation for a UL soundingchannel (UE SC T/F 248). UE SRS 246 is an identifying signal that the UEcan transmit for signaling to provide measurement information to thenetwork in an UL sounding channel using the UL sounding channeltime/frequency resource allocation UE SC T/F 248.

At the conclusion of initial access procedure 210, the UE 104 isprovided with a Hypercell ID (i.e. an ID for logical entity 110), a UEdedicated connection ID (UE DCID 240), a UE-centric sequence (UE SEQ242), an uplink tracking resource allocation (UL TC T/F 244), aUE-centric sounding reference signal (UE SRS 246) and a sounding channelresource allocation UE SC T/F 248). As will be explained in greaterdetail below and as illustrated in FIG. 2, the UE DCID 240 is usedacross a number of Active procedures 208, ECO procedures 206 and commonprocedures 207. In example embodiments, the UE sequence (UE SEQ 242) andUplink tracking channel resource (UL TC T/F 244) assignments are usedprimarily in the ECO state 202, and the UE sounding reference signal (UESRS 246) assignment and sounding channel resource (UE SC T/F 248)assignments are used primarily in the Active state 204. In someembodiments, the UE sequence (UE SEQ 242) and Uplink tracking channelresource (UL TC T/F 244) assignments are used exclusively in the ECOstate 202, and the UE sounding reference signal (UE SRS 246) andsounding channel resource (UE SC T/F 248) assignments are usedexclusively in the Active state 204.

As noted above, a grant-free transmission procedure 212 can be supportedin both Active state 204 and ECO state 202. Such a procedure may, forexample, be useful for small packet transmissions with low dynamicsignaling overhead. The controller 106 identifies or determines thetraffic types that are suitable for grant-free transmission. FIGS. 4, 5,6, and 7 illustrate a set of functions that are part of grant-freetransmission procedure 212. Aspects of suitable grant-free transmissionprocedures are described in detail in one or more of the aforementioneddocuments—see for example U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/911,716filed Jun. 6, 2013 (publication number US 2014/0192767 A1), entitled“System and Method for Small Traffic Transmissions” and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/790,673 filed Mar. 8, 2013, (publication numberUS 2014/0254544 A1) entitled “System and Method for Uplink Grant-FreeTransmission Scheme”. Accordingly, FIGS. 4-7 and the accompanyingdescription provide a high level overview. In example embodiments, theUE DCID 240 is used in both grant-free uplink and downlinkcommunications to identify the target UE 104 (in the case of a downlinktransmission) or identify the sending UE (in the case of an uplinktransmission). A shared grant-free uplink data channel and a sharedgrant-free downlink data channel can be used by multiple UEs, each ofwhich may be in an Active state or an ECO state, to communicate with anetwork entity 110.

FIG. 4 illustrates network side actions 212A-UL enabled by thecontroller 108 for grant-free UL transmissions, including the following:logical entities 110 broadcast information about radio resources for ULgrant-free transmission channel (“UL grant-free shared channel”) (Action401); controller 106/logical entities 110 perform blind detection onreceived data in UL grant-free transmission channel (Action 402); andcontroller 106 sends an acknowledgement message (ACK) through logicalentity 110 to UE 104 upon successful data decoding (Action 403).

FIG. 5 illustrates the corresponding UE-side actions 212B-UL performedby UE 104 for UL grant-free transmissions, including: UE 104 performscapability exchange for configuring UL grant-free transmission mode(Action 501); UE 104 derives grant-free resource mapping based onbroadcast information (Action 502); UE sends data (with a deviceidentifier such as UE DCID 240) in pre-defined resources withpre-configured modulation and coding scheme (MCS) (Action 503); and UEmay retransmit upon determination that the initial transmission failed,for example upon ACK timer expiry (Action 504).

FIG. 6 illustrates network side actions 212A-DL enabled by thecontroller 108 for DL grant-free transmissions, including the following:logical entities 110 broadcast information about DL grant-freetransmission channel (“DL grant-free shared channel”) (Action 601);controller 106/logical entities 110 send data in pre-defined resourceswith pre-configured MCS (Action 602) (with target device identifier suchas UE DCID 240 in the case of a downlink for a specified UE); andcontroller 106 may retransmit upon ACK timer expiry (Action 603).

FIG. 7 illustrates the corresponding UE-side actions 212B-DL performedby UE 104 for DL grant-free transmissions, including: UE 104 performscapability exchange for configuring DL grant-free transmission mode(Action 701); UE 104 derives grant-free resource mapping based onbroadcast information (Action 702); UE 104 performs blind detection onreceived data in DL grant-free transmission channel (Action 703); and UE104 sends ACK upon successful data decoding (Action 704).

As noted above, in example embodiments Scheduled Transmission Procedures214 are only supported in the UE Active state 204. FIGS. 8 and 9respectively illustrate UE functions 214-UL and 214-DL that areperformed by UE 104 for uplink and downlink communications,respectively, as part of Scheduled Transmission Procedures 214.Scheduled transmission procedures are described in one or more of thedocuments identified above, and accordingly FIGS. 8 and 9 provide asummary. In an example embodiment, UL scheduled transmission occurs inan adaptive frame structure with filtered orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (f-OFDM), and UL grant information is sent via a controlchannel optimized to serve the UE 104. At UE 104, UL scheduledtransmission includes the following actions: UE 104 sends schedulingrequest in the UL control channel in a configured UE UL frame structure(Action 801); UE 104 blindly decodes UE-centric grant control channel inthe sub-band(s) of the configured DL frame structure(s) (Action 802);and UE transmits data in the granted resource of UL shared data channelof the configured UE UL frame structure (Action 803).

DL scheduled transmission also occurs in an adaptive frame structurewith f-OFDM. DL grant information is sent via a UE-centric controlchannel optimized to serve the UE. As illustrated in FIG. 9, at UE 104,DL scheduled transmission includes the following actions: UE 104 blindlydecodes UE-centric DL control channel in the sub-band(s) of theconfigured UE DL frame structure(s) (Action 990); and UE 104 decodesdata in the corresponding DL shared data channel in the corresponding DLframe structure (Action 991).

As noted above, in at least some embodiments Network-OrientedMeasurement Procedures 216 are supported exclusively in Active state204. Such procedures enable the controller 106 to dynamically andflexibly configure serving TRPs 102 for the UE 104. Aspects of suitableNetwork-Oriented Measurement Procedures 216 are described in detail inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/930,908 filed Jun. 28, 2013(publication number US 2015/0003236 A1), entitled “System and Method forNetwork Uplink Measurement Based Operation Using UE Centric Sounding”.FIG. 10 provides a summary of Network-Oriented Measurement Procedures216, according to an example embodiment. UE 104 is assigned UE centricsounding reference signal (UE SRS) 246 and sounding radio resources UESC T/F 248 upon initial access (Action 1001). In particular, this actionis done as part of previously described Action 306 (FIG. 3) duringinitial access procedure 210. As part of Network-Oriented MeasurementProcedure 216, UE sounding signals UE SRS 246 are received by multiplenearby transmit points (TPs) 102. DL and UL transmissions can beassisted by the UL measurements, and DL feedback requirements can bereduced. In this regard, as shown in FIG. 10, procedure 216 includes:Controller 106 configures UE-centric SRS (UE SRS 246) and channelresources (UE SC T/F 248) based on assigned UE dedicated connection IDand UE 104 location (Action 1001); TRPs 102 detect and monitor UEcentric SRS UE SRS 246 (Action 1002—performed on an ongoing basis); TRPs102 report measurement information for UEs 104 to a controller 106(Action 1003); controller 106 generates and maintains UE-TRP associationtable (action 1004); and controller 106 determines the best serving TRPs102 for UE 104 based on the UE-TRP association table. Action 1001 isperformed as part of UE initial access; Actions 1001, 1003, 1004 and1005 are performed by the network controller 106 on an ongoing basis foractive-state UEs.

In some example embodiments, UE 104 is configured to transmit soundingresource signalling UE SRS 246 using the sounding channel resources UESC T/F 248 exclusively while in Active state 202. However, in someexample embodiments, UE 106 may provide the signalling required tosupport the measurement procedures 216 even in the ECO state 202.

FIGS. 11 and 12 respectively illustrate a network initiated ECO toActive state transition procedure 218A and a UE initiated ECO to Activestate transition procedure 218B. Examples of state transition proceduresare described in detail in one or more of the documents identifiedabove. In the illustrated example, state transition is contention freeand uses a UE-centric sequence to reduce latency of the statetransition.

In an example embodiment, network-initiated state transition procedure218A from ECO to Active is triggered by a message from the network tothe UE 104, while the UE 104 is in the ECO state, indicating that thenetwork has downlink data to send to the UE 104. Such a notificationmay, for example, occur when the amount of downlink data exceeds thedata that could efficiently be sent in a grant-free shared channel. Inthis regard, in example embodiments, wireless communications network 100includes a low resource shared DL notification channel that can be usedto send DL or paging notifications to UEs 104. In some embodiments, UE104 could be informed of a DL notification channel assignment as part ofthe initial access procedure 210; alternatively, DL notification channelassignment could occur when a UE 104 goes into an ECO state;alternatively, DL notification channel assignment could be done as partof UE factory provisioning or at other times.

As shown in FIG. 11, in an example embodiment network-initiated statetransition procedure 218A from ECO to Active includes Actions 1101-1105performed at UE 104 and Actions 1111-1113 performed by network logicalelement 110 and network controller 106, as follows. UE 104 monitors theDL notification channel for a paging/DL data notification while the UE104 is in ECO state (Action 1101). When the network controller 106determines that it has downlink data for UE 104 that exceeds thecapacity of the DL grant-free shared channel, the network controller 106causes network logical element 110 to send a notification for UE 104 inthe DL notification channel (Action 1111). In an example embodiment, thenotification is addressed to the UE 104 using the UE DCID 240 (or anassociated UE identifier that is a subset of the UE DCID such as the UEID), and includes an indication that a transition to an Active state isrequired. In some embodiments, a flag or bit in the message could be setto indicate a state transition is required; in other examples, theindication is implicit in the message. UE 104 receives the paging/DLdata notification message indicating state transition (Action 1102), andUE 104 sends UE-centric sequence (UE SEQ 242) to network logical element110 for measurement purposes using a defined UL resource (Action 1103).In some embodiments, the UE SEQ 242 is sent in the UL tracking channelused in tracking procedure 222, discussed below. In some embodiments,the UE SEQ 242 transmission is sent specifically in response to the DLdata notification messages, however in some embodiments UE SEQ 242transmission is periodically sent as a tracking message to the networkentity by UE 104 during the time the UE 104 is in the ECO state.

One or more TRPs in the logical entity 110 receives the UE SEQ 242transmission. Network controller 106 uses the information (for examplethe signal strength) from the received UE SEQ signal to confirm thenetwork resources available to be dedicated to send the downlink data,and causes a further message to be sent to UE 104 confirming that thetransition to Active state should proceed (Action 1112); UE 104 receivesthe response from network logical element 110 (Action 1104) and then UE104 transitions to Active state (Action 1105). Data downlink procedure214-DL can then be implemented (Action 1113).

As shown in FIG. 12, UE-initiated state transition procedure 218B fromECO to Active includes the following: UE sends UE-centric sequence UESEQ 242 to network logical element 110 (Action 1201); UE receivesresponse from network logical element 110 (Action 1202); and UEtransitions to Active state (Action 1203).

FIG. 13 illustrates state transition procedure 220 for moving from a UEActive state 204 to a UE ECO state 202. The Active to ECO statetransition can be triggered by an activity timer expiry UE 104(procedure 1301) or can be network initiated for other reasons(procedure 1302). In the case of timer expiry procedure 1301, thefollowing actions are taken in example embodiments: Network controller106 keeps track of a UE activity timer (Action 1310); UE activity timerexpires due to no data exchange (Action 1312); Controller 106 causesnetwork to send to the UE 104 via higher layer signaling (for example inthe control layer) an instruction to transition to ECO state (Action1314).

In procedure 1302, the network controller 106 proactively initiates theUE transition to the ECO state (Action 1316), and sends an instructionto transition to ECO state to the UE 104 via higher layer signaling (forexample in the radio resource control (RRC) layer) (Action 1318).

As noted above, in example embodiments, tracking procedure 222 isperformed exclusively in the ECO state 202. A suitable trackingprocedure is described in detail in the document mentioned aboveentitled: “System and Method for a Tracking Channel” (U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/009,626 filed Jan. 28, 2016). The trackingprocedure 222 in ECO state enables monitoring of UEs 104 by controller106 and in at least some examples uses less network t/f resources thanare used in the active state network-oriented measurement procedure 216discussed above. Among other things, such ECO state tracking may, in atleast some applications, provide one or more of the following features:facilitate a contention-free procedure with UE centric sequence, shortenresponse time by eliminating the contention resolution and RNTIassignment, and increase the capacity of random access by avoidingcollision. As noted above, during the initial access procedure, aUE-centric sequence (UE SEQ 242) is assigned to UE 104 and a UL trackingchannel resource (UL TC T/F 244) is also assigned to UE 104. Theseassigned characteristics are used by UE 104 and the network for trackingprocedure 222. In this regard, FIG. 14 provides a summary of trackingprocedure 222, which includes the following actions: Network controller106 (re-)configures UE centric sequence (UE SEQ 242) and trackingchannel resources (UL TC T/F 244) and periodicity based on UE types andmobility information (Action 1401); UE 104 sends UE centric sequence (UESES 242) to the network (logical entity 110) in a contention-free mannerusing the assigned tracking channel resources (Action 1402); and UEreceives response from the network (logical entity 110).

As noted above, in example embodiments, DL data notification procedure224 is performed exclusively in the ECO state 202. A suitable DL datanotification procedure 224 is described in detail in the documentmentioned above entitled: “Apparatus And Method For a Wireless Device ToReceive Data in an Eco State”. DL data notification procedure 224provides a UE-specific notification (indication) of pending DL datatransmission when the UE is in the “ECO” state 202, and can be used tofacilitate DL data transmission in the ECO state using the grant-freetransmission procedure 212 (such that no dynamic resource allocation isrequired). This can enable a reduced set of radio resources (reserved,pre-configured) for data transmission. FIG. 15 provides a summary of DLData notification procedure 224, which includes the following actions inan example embodiment: in ECO state, UE 104 monitors DL datanotification (Action 1501); optionally, UE sends additional measurements(1502); within a defined time duration, the UE expects to receive DLdata while in the ECO state, over a grant-free DL channel (Action 1503).

As noted above, deregistration procedure 226 is supported in both UEstates in example embodiments. Deregistration can be triggered by eventssuch as UE power off, or occurrence of a registration timer expiry. Aregistration timer expiry may, for example, occur on the network sidewhen no data activities such as tracking procedure 222 occur for apredetermined time duration or at the UE side when UE 104 does notreceive responses from the network for a predetermined duration. FIG.16A illustrates a summary of a power off deregistration procedure, whichis initiated when UE 104 sends a deregistration message to the networkentity 110 as part of a power off procedure (Action 1602). Thecontroller 106 deregisters UE in response to the deregistration message(Action 1604). FIG. 16B illustrates a registration timer expiryderegistration procedure, which is initiated when a registration timerexpires at either the network or UE (Action 1606), resulting in thecontroller 106 deregistering the UE (Action 1608).

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a processing system 900 that may be usedfor implementing the UE and network devices and methods disclosedherein. Specific devices may utilize all of the components shown, oronly a subset of the components and levels of integration may vary fromdevice to device. Furthermore, a device may contain multiple instancesof a component, such as multiple processing units, processors, memories,transmitters, receivers, etc. The processing system 900 may comprise aprocessing unit 901 equipped with one or more input/output devices, suchas a speaker, microphone, mouse, touchscreen, keypad, keyboard, printer,display, and the like. The processing unit 901 may include a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 910, memory 920, a mass storage device 930, anetwork interface 950, an I/O interface 960, and an antenna circuit 970connected to a bus 940. The processing unit 901 also includes an antennaelement 975 connected to the antenna circuit.

The bus 940 may be one or more of any type of several bus architecturesincluding a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, videobus, or the like. The CPU 910 may comprise any type of electronic dataprocessor. The memory 920 may comprise any type of system memory such asstatic random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), read-only memory (ROM), a combination thereof,or the like. In an embodiment, the memory 920 may include ROM for use atboot-up, and DRAM for program and data storage for use while executingprograms.

The mass storage device 930 may comprise any type of storage deviceconfigured to store data, programs, and other information and to makethe data, programs, and other information accessible via the bus 940.The mass storage device 930 may comprise, for example, one or more of asolid state drive, hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an opticaldisk drive, or the like.

The I/O interface 960 may provide interfaces to couple external inputand output devices to the processing unit 901. The I/O interface 960 mayinclude a video adapter. Examples of input and output devices mayinclude a display coupled to the video adapter and amouse/keyboard/printer coupled to the I/O interface. Other devices maybe coupled to the processing unit 901 and additional or fewer interfacecards may be utilized. For example, a serial interface such as UniversalSerial Bus (USB) (not shown) may be used to provide an interface for aprinter.

The antenna circuit 970 and antenna element 975 may allow the processingunit 901 to communicate with remote units via a network. In anembodiment, the antenna circuit 970 and antenna element 975 provideaccess to a wireless wide area network (WAN) and/or to a cellularnetwork, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), and Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM) networks. In some embodiments, the antenna circuit970 and antenna element 975 may also provide Bluetooth and/or WiFiconnection to other devices.

The processing unit 901 may also include one or more network interfaces950, which may comprise wired links, such as an Ethernet cable or thelike, and/or wireless links to access nodes or different networks. Thenetwork interface 901 allows the processing unit 901 to communicate withremote units via the networks 980. For example, the network interface950 may provide wireless communication via one or moretransmitters/transmit antennas and one or more receivers/receiveantennas. In an embodiment, the processing unit 901 is coupled to alocal-area network or a wide-area network for data processing andcommunications with remote devices, such as other processing units, theInternet, remote storage facilities, or the like.

Although the present disclosure describes methods and processes withsteps in a certain order, one or more steps of the methods and processesmay be omitted or altered as appropriate. One or more steps may takeplace in an order other than that in which they are described, asappropriate.

While the present disclosure is described, at least in part, in terms ofmethods, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that thepresent disclosure is also directed to the various components forperforming at least some of the aspects and features of the describedmethods, be it by way of hardware components, software or anycombination of the two. Accordingly, the technical solution of thepresent disclosure may be embodied in the form of a software product. Asuitable software product may be stored in a pre-recorded storage deviceor other similar non-volatile or non-transitory computer readablemedium, including DVDs, CD-ROMs, USB flash disk, a removable hard disk,or other storage media, for example. The software product includesinstructions tangibly stored thereon that enable a processing device(e.g., a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to executeexamples of the methods disclosed herein. In example embodiments, the UE104, TRPs 102 and network controller 106 each comprise a memory 920tangibly storing executable instructions that, when executed by CPU 910to cause the UE 104, TP 102 or network controller 106 to perform thefunctions and procedures described above.

The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the subject matter of the claims. The described exampleembodiments are to be considered in all respects as being onlyillustrative and not restrictive. Selected features from one or more ofthe above-described embodiments may be combined to create alternativeembodiments not explicitly described, features suitable for suchcombinations being understood within the scope of this disclosure.

All values and sub-ranges within disclosed ranges are also disclosed.Also, while the systems, devices and processes disclosed and shownherein may comprise a specific number of elements/components, thesystems, devices and assemblies could be modified to include additionalor fewer of such elements/components. For example, while any of theelements/components disclosed may be referenced as being singular, theembodiments disclosed herein could be modified to include a plurality ofsuch elements/components. The subject matter described herein intends tocover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.

1. A method comprising: sending, by a network node, information about anuplink (UL) grant-free transmission channel to a first user equipment(UE); and receiving, by the network node from the first UE that is in afirst state different from an active state, data in the UL grant-freetransmission channel according to the sent information.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the information about the UL grant-freetransmission channel is broadcast by the network node to multiple UEsincluding the first UE.
 3. The method according to claim 1, whereinreceiving the data comprises: performing, by the network node, a blinddetection on a transmission of data in the UL grant-free transmissionchannel according to the sent information; and decoding, by the networknode, detected data.
 4. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: sending, by the network node, an acknowledgement message tothe first UE upon a successful decoding of the received data.
 5. Themethod according to claim 1, the UL grant-free transmission channelbeing a UL grant-free shared channel which is shared by the first UE andat least one other UE that is in one of the first state and the activestate.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information aboutthe UL grant-free transmission channel comprises information about aradio resource of the UL grant-free transmission channel.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 6, wherein the received data is decoded in the radioresource.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the received datais decoded according to information associated with a pre-configuredmodulation and coding scheme (MCS).
 9. The method according to claim 1,wherein receiving the data comprises: receiving the data with a UEidentifier that uniquely identifies the first UE, the first UE being asending device of the data.
 10. The method according to claim 9, whereinthe UE identifier is a UE dedicated connection identifier (UE DCID). 11.The method according to claim 1, wherein the first state ischaracterized by one or more of: supporting a reduced set of UEfunctionality that the active state supports; or requiring less networkresource compared to the active state.
 12. The method according to claim1, wherein the first state supports a data transfer connectivity withoutdynamic resource allocation request and grant from the network node. 13.An apparatus comprising a processor coupled with a memory, the processorconfigured to: send information about an uplink (UL) grant-freetransmission channel to a first user equipment (UE); and receive, fromthe first UE that is in a first state different from an active state,data in the UL grant-free transmission channel according to the sentinformation.
 14. A method comprising: receiving, by a first userequipment (UE) from a network node, information about an uplink (UL)grant-free transmission channel; and transmitting, to the network node,by the first UE that is in a first state different from an active state,data in the UL grant-free transmission channel according to the receivedinformation.
 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the receivedinformation about the UL grant-free transmission channel comprisesinformation about a radio resource of the UL grant-free transmissionchannel.
 16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising, afterthe receiving the information: determining, by the first UE, the radioresource for a UL grant-free transmission based on the receivedinformation; wherein data is transmitted on the determined radioresource.
 17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the data istransmitted with a pre-configured modulation and coding scheme (MCS).18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the data is transmittedwith a UE identifier that uniquely identifies the first UE, the first UEbeing a sending device of the data.
 19. The method according to claim16, wherein the UE identifier is a UE dedicated connection identifier(UE DCID).
 20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:receiving, from the network node, by the first UE that is in the firststate, an acknowledgement message indicating a successful decoding ofthe data.
 21. The method according to claim 14, wherein, if before atimer expires, the UE receives no acknowledgement message indicating asuccessful decoding of the data, the method further comprises:retransmitting, to the network node, by the first UE that is in thefirst state, the data.
 22. The method according to claim 21, furthercomprising, before the retransmitting: determining, by the first UE thatis in the first state, that the transmission of the data failed, if thefirst UE receives no acknowledgement message indicating a successfuldecoding of the data before a timer expires.
 23. The method according toclaim 14, wherein the UL grant-free transmission channel is a ULgrant-free shared channel which is shared by the first UE and at leastone other UE that is in one of the first state and the active state. 24.The method according to claim 14, wherein the information about a ULgrant-free transmission channel is in a broadcast message.
 25. Themethod according to claim 14, wherein the first state is characterizedby one or more of: supporting a reduced set of UE functionality that theactive state supports; or requiring less network resource compared tothe active state.
 26. The method according to claim 14, wherein thefirst state supports a data transfer connectivity without dynamicresource allocation request and grant from the network node.
 27. Anapparatus comprising a processor coupled with a memory, the processorconfigured to: receive, from a network node, information about an uplink(UL) grant-free transmission channel; and transmit data to the networknode, when the apparatus is in a first state different from an activestate, in the UL grant-free transmission channel according to thereceived information.